Trump and Modi Reset Ties at G7 Summit in France

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump held a series of high-stakes meetings on June 16 and 17, 2026, during the G7 Summit in Évian-les-Bains, France. The interactions marked their first in-person encounter in 16 months and served as a strategic reset for bilateral relations that had been strained by US punitive tariffs, immigration policies, and conflicting claims regarding the India-Pakistan conflict.

A central point of tension was the recent death of three Indian sailors aboard the MT Settebello, killed during a US Navy strike while enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports in the Gulf of Oman. Modi urged Trump to prioritize the safety of Indian seafarers and ensure the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump acknowledged the deaths and pledged that the US would support India if it were attacked. The discussions coincided with a mediated peace agreement between the US and Iran to halt hostilities and reopen the Strait.

On the economic front, the leaders announced they are close to finalizing an interim bilateral trade agreement. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is scheduled to visit India from June 22 to 24 to refine the framework and address Section 301 tariff investigations. Following the summit, Trump praised Modi in an interview with Axios, calling him a "great leader" and a "tough cookie" who maintains a sense of calmness while remaining a "killer" in negotiations.

Domestically, the interaction sparked political division in India. The Aam Aadmi Party and members of the Indian National Congress accused Modi of surrendering national dignity by failing to secure an apology for the sailors' deaths, while other Congress leaders, such as Shashi Tharoor, praised the diplomacy as a way to warm relations.